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I've never kept cherry barbs but I won't think a betta would go well with them. I'd imagine they would bully the betta and the betta would get stressed. For keeping a betta I would go with a 10 gallon for the single betta.

Cherry barbs are quite nervous fish (I have a school of 28 of them), most unlike your classic barbs and don't bully anything as far as I can tell. They are not fin nippers. You will probably be ok with them in my opinion. Just make sure you have plenty of plants. Cherry barbs like shady cover.

+ 1 to firefly's comment on Cherry barbs, they are perhaps the most peacefull of all the Barbs. Also follow her advice on plants and shading and you should be okay.

Perfection is not attainable, but if we chase perfection we can catch excellence.
Once you learn to quit, it becomes a habit. -Vince Lombardi
“Be more concerned with your character than your reputation, because your character is what you really are, while your reputation is merely what others think you are.” ― John WoodenSandy Hook Elementary......Lest We Forget
See my profile for my tanks and what fish I keep

I have lots of plants for them and have never had any nipped fins or anything like that- have two that dance occasionally but they're not at all aggressive. I was more concerned on what the betta might to do the barbs then vise versa.

You could always try a female Betta if in doubt. There are some very nice color strains of them nowadays.

Perfection is not attainable, but if we chase perfection we can catch excellence.
Once you learn to quit, it becomes a habit. -Vince Lombardi
“Be more concerned with your character than your reputation, because your character is what you really are, while your reputation is merely what others think you are.” ― John WoodenSandy Hook Elementary......Lest We Forget
See my profile for my tanks and what fish I keep

+1 with genocidex - I've seen people try and put a betta in with other tank mates & then quickly have to remove it because it attacked something - you should have a back up tank (no smaller than 5gal) to put a betta in just in case if you do decide to add one.

There are also those that ignore the other fish in the tank with it too.

Do you think getting a baby betta and having it grow up with the others would allow it to acclimate and not be interested in fighting with the others? Or does adult/baby matter? The bettas I've had before were always kept by themselves and were adults...